Multidirectional faucet



06L 7, 1969 KARL'PETER LOPATA 3,470,906

MULTIDIRECTIONAL FAUCET Filed May 1, 1967 INVENTOR. KARL-PETER L P/ m AGE/VT US. Cl. 137-579 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid flow controlling two-way or three-way faucet comprising a thin walled tubing cross, in which the vertical tube contains an overflow wall extending into the upper portion of the vertical tube and in which a drainage hose is attached to the lower end, whereby the drainagemay be regulated by the position of the outlet of the-drainagehose. Broadly, the faucet defines a passage from one end of the horizontal tube to the lower portion of the vertical tube and a second passage from the one end of a horizontal tube over the overflow wall and out the other end of the horizontal tube. In a preferred embodiment, the overflow wall may be adjusted to permit passage from the second end of the-horizontal tube to the lower end of the vertical tube, and may be adjusted to seal offthe ends of the horizontal tube from the vertical tube.

This invention relates to a multidirectional faucet containing flow through and shutoff elements for liquids being transferred from one tank or vat to another. More particularly, it relates to a two or three-way faucet to connect liquor vats in wet finishing machines as used in the textile industry.

A primary need, especially in the textile industries, is an inexpensive connecting and drainage faucet, in particular producible from thin walled tubing or sheet metal, which is absolutely tight, at least in the drainage direction, despite the wide manufacturing tolerances present in such devices. The type of shutoff valves which are available today and Whichfulfill the large cross section requirements of the modern textile industry are very expensive, even in their simplest designs. Hence there is a distinct need for a relatively simple and economical and yet effective connecting and draining faucet in the textile industry. 7

Accordingly it is the primary object of this invention to provide an economical and relatively simple effective drainage faucet of the type needed by the textile industry today.

It is an object of this invention to provide a faucet which may regulate flow between two vats or tanks, whereby the flow may bedirected from one tank to the second tank, or to the drain from either tank.

According to the principles of the invention, the faucet described and claimed herein comprises generally a thin walled tubing cross having a vertical tube with upper'and lower portions and a horizontal tube positioned between these upper and lower portions and having a first and second end. The faucet contains an overflow separating wall positioned within and operably mounted on the cross and extending upward into the upper portion of the vertical tube. By this attached vertical tube, the top of said wall being higher than the outer side of the horizontal tube, a passage is created from the first end of the horizontal tube to the lower portion of the vertical tube while simultaneously creating a second passage from the first end of the horizontal tube over the wall and into the second end of the horizontal tube. The faucet contains an adjustable outlet on the lower portion of the vertical tube which may be positioned at points ranging from higher than the top of the wall to lower than the lower portion of the vertical tube. In preferred embodiments, the faucet may contain adjusting means for regulating the position of the wall to reverse the passage and create a passage from the second end of the tube to the lower portion of a vertical tube, and further, may contain means for adjusting the position of the wall to seal off the first and second ends of the horizontal tube from the vertical tube.

Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become obvious upon reference to the following detailed description and the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein;

The figure is a front elevation view with parts broken away in section of a faucet embodying the principles of this invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment As canbe seen in the figure, two liquor vats 1 and 2 of a wet finishing machine are connected by a two-way or three-way faucet shown generally by the numeral 3. For the purposes of this disclosure the liquid level in vat 1 is labeled H1 and is maintained at a higher level than the liquid level H2 in vat 2, whereby the treating liquor flows fro-m vat 1 to vat 2 under the force of gravity. Of course, it is possible to utilize pumping means rather than the force of gravity, and the invention is not limited to any specific liquid level in either tank. The faucet 3 is comprised of a tubing cross formed bya vertical tube 4 of rectangular cross section (of which the. narrow side can be seen in the figure) anda horizontal tube 5, which are welded together from thin walled tubing or from sheet metal. The vertical tube 4 has an upper and lower portion, and the horizontal tube 5 has a first end and a second end. Welded into the vertical tube 4 is an offset overflow'wall 6 in such a manner that the liquid flowing in the direction of the full drawn arrow in the figure must flow over the upper end of the overflow wall. The level of the overflow wall is, therefore, so chosen that the treating liquor can flow from level H1 in vat 1 to level H2 in vat 2 at the desired flow velocity. Hence, the height of the vertical tube 4 is chosen such that an overflow from the vertical tube 4 is impossible. In other words, the upper extremity of the vertical tube 4 is always at a level higher than the level H1 of the liquid in the vat 1.

The drainage hose 8 is snuggly fastened to the lower end of the vertical tube 4 and serves to drain the liquor from the liquor vat 1 to the main level of the faucet, which is necessary, for instance when excessive suds formation occurs. Upon such an occurrence, the liquor takes the path as indicated by the dash dotted arrow extending from vat 1 into the drainage hose 8. This drainage can be interrupted in a simple manner by positioning the opposite end 9 of the drainage hose 8 at a location such as hook 10, which is higher than the liquid level H1 and H2, thereby making it impossible for liquor to overflow.

The ends of the horizontal tube 5 may be connected to the vats 1 and 2 by any suitable means such as rubber hoses 11 which fit over nipples 12 which, in turn, are attached to the liquor vats.

Hence, in a position shown in the figure, the liquor from vat 1 will flow to vat 2 as shown by the full drawn arrow and will flow at a rate controlled by the height of the overflow wall 6 and by the differential in heights between level H1 and H2. If it is desired to drain away the fluid flowing from vat 1 rather than passing it to vat 2, the upper end of the drainage hose 8 is disconnected from the hook 10 and lowered so as to allow the liquid to pass therethrough. Thus a two-way faucet has been described which is adapted to connect two liquor vats so as to control the flow therebetween, or to facilitate the drainage of fluids from one of the vats without disturbing the other vat.

It is a further feature of this invention that the preceding described two-way faucet with two flow directions can be converted into a three-way faucet. In this embodiment a snug fitting tube 13 of cylindrical cross section with tube flow through holes 14 and containing an overflow separating wall 6 is inserted into the now rounded tube 4. By turning the inserted tube 13 by 180 degrees by means of a lever 15 attached to the top of the tube 13, liquid passage is also possible in the direction of the dash dotted arrow extending from vat 2 into the drainage hose.

A further feature of the invention is that it is possible to shut off the flow between the two vats 1 and 2 by turning the inserted tube 13 by means of lever 15 only 90 degrees thereby moving the flow through holes 14 away from the horizontal tube and completely shutting off the flow through the horizontal tube 5. Thus, it can be seen that the invention as described in this particular embodiment provides a three-way faucet, which can facilitate a flow of fluid from vat 1 to vat 2 or a direct drainage of fluids from either vat 1 or vat 2, and further it can provide for a complete stoppage of flow from vats 1 and 2.

Therefore, it should now be readily apparent that the subject invention presents a very simple and economical faucet for connecting two fluid containers, which can be adapted to provide for two-way or three-way operation and control of the fluid in the respective containers. Although it has been described in connection with its use in the textile industry as positioned between two liquor vats in textile treatment operations, it should be clear to those skilled in the art to which it pertains that it has use in any liquid controlling operation and that it is not limited to the textile industry.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A multidirectional faucet comprising a tubing cross having a vertical tube with upper and lower portions and a horizontal tube positioned between said upper and lower portions of said vertical tubes and having a first end and a second end, an overflow separating wall positioned. within said cross and extending upward into said upper portion of said vertical tube such that the top of said wall is higher than the upper side of said horizontal tube, said wall having its lower end mounted in operative relationship with said cross to create a passage from said first end of said horizontal tube to said lower portion of said vertical tube and a second passage from said first end of said horizontal tube over said wall and to said second end of said horizontal tube, and an adjustable outlet on said lower portion of said vertical. tube whereby said outlet may be positioned at points ranging from higher than the top of said wall to lower than said lower portion of said vertical tube.

2. The faucet of claim 1 further containing means for adjusting the position of said wall to create a passage from said second end of said tube to said lower portion of said vertical tube.

3. The faucet of claim 1 further containing means for adjusting the position of said wall to seal olf said first and said second ends of said horizontal tube from said vertical tube.

4. The faucet of claim 1 where said outlet on said lower portion of said vertical tube is a flexible hose.

5. The faucet of claim 1 where said first end of said horizontal tube is attached to a first vessel and said second end of said horizontal tube is attached to a second vessel.

6. The faucet of claim 1 where said tubing cross is constructed from thin wall tubing.

7. The faucet of claim 1 where said tubing cross is constructed from sheet metal.

8. The faucet of claim 1 wherein said wall is mounted on a second vertical tube positioned within the vertical tube, said second vertical tube containing a means for rotating said second tube about the axis of said first tube, thereby providing means for adjusting the position of said wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1926 Lawton 137-574 X 7/1929 Davies et a1 137-579 X 

